Thursday, 29 December 2011

Vitamin B5 known also as pantothenic acid or the “anti-stress vitamin” is a member of vitamin B complex. Just like most of other B vitamins, pantothenic acid plays a role for producing energy by converting carbs we receive from foods into glucose. It is a water-soluble vitamin, which is absolutely essential for our healthy liver, eyes, hair, and skin, and also this natural component is vital for normal function of our nervous system. Fortunately, we can receive necessary amounts of pantothenic acid from what we eat as the food sources of vitamin B5 are numerous.

This vitamin is important for normalizing hormone secretion in the body. It helps control bad LDL cholesterol levels in the blood and lower the risks of cloth formation, thus preventing such serious health conditions as heart attack, atherosclerosis, and so on. Proper amounts of vitamin B5 in your body stimulate metabolism and assist in fighting allergies. Some researches have shown that pantothenic acid can aid lowering arthritis pains. Also, this natural component can stimulate wound healing, prevent minor digestive disorders, low blood pressure, migraines, muscular cramps, muscular dystrophy, and so on.
Finally, proper amounts of vitamin B5 in the body are linked to more effective stress management, less effects of such symptoms as anxiety, nervous tension, fatigue, irritability, and insomnia. Daily doses of vitamin b5 recommended by the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), are the following: for babies and infants – 1.7-1.8 mg, for children below 8 – 3-4 mg, for teenagers – 4-5 mg, for adults – 5 mg, for pregnant and breastfeeding women – 6-7 mg.

Food sources of vitamin B5 include legumes, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, cauliflower,avocado, sunflower seeds, soybeans, egg yolks, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, whole-grain breads and cereals, and so on. It is necessary to remember that pantothenic acid is getting easily destroyed by cooking and canning, that is why it is recommended to use the mentioned food sources of vitamin B5 in unprocessed forms. Herbal sources of vitamin b5 include nettle, burdock root, yellow dock, alfalfa, and others.
However, it is also possible to receive proper amounts of pantothenic acid from various dietary and vitamin supplements. It is especially important for those people who suffer from chronic stresses or who are prone to various types of allergies. Vitamin B5 is much more effective when taken along with other key vitamins, especially vitamin C and vitamin E. Remember that though vitamin B5 is not considered toxic, an overdose of this vitamin can result in such side effects as water retention, mild digestive disorders, and others.

Natural Sources of Vitamin B5

Common sources of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid are eggs, liver, meats, cheese, corn, peanuts, peas, soybeans, wheat germ and brewer’s yeast. Being widely occurred deficiency of vitamin B5 is very rare. Some of the best sources of vitamin B5 are corn, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, kale, lentils, egg yolks, avocado, legumes, beef (especially kidney and liver), duck, chicken, turkey, milk, sweet potatoes, whole-grain breads, sunflower seeds, cereals, salmon and lobster. The best sources of this vitamin B5 are yeast, barn, whole grains and mushrooms. Most fruits and vegetables contain small amount of pantothenic acid. Food processing techniques, canning and over heating destroy pantothenic acid. As per research around 33% of its content gets destroyed while cooking. Since vitamin B5 has a property to dissolve well in water so

Healthcare Benefits of Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5 houses various health care benefits. Being found in all living cells such as plants and animals cells, this helps to form bacterial flora in the intestine. Till date vitamin B5 is not known to be toxic in mankind. As per various medical researches, this vitamin does not show any side effects so far. But on consumption of large amount it may cause diarrhoea. Expect diarrhoea no other adverse symptoms have been reported.

Vitamin B5 – Reduces the Level of High Cholesterol Level

As per various studies pantothenic acid is known to reduce the level of triglycerides i.e. fat among people having high cholesterol level. Various studies has been carried that shows vitamin B5 helps to reduce the level of LDL cholesterol or the bad cholesterol and increase the level of good cholesterol or HDL.

Vitamin B5 – Help Fast Wound Healing

In some open studies, vitamin B5 supplements help to speed up wound healing. After surgery or injury, this vitamin works wonder for wound healing when combined with vitamin C.

Vitamin B5 – Help To Fight against R heumatoid Arthritis

Preliminary studies claim that vitamin B5 helps a lot to fight against the symptoms of RA i.e. rheumatoid arthritis. As per another study, people with rheumatoid arthritis shows deficiency of vitamin B5 in their blood in compare to the people having no symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. A small research work has been carried out in 1980, it says around that 2,000 mg/day of calcium pantothenate helps to improve the condition of rheumatoid arthritis. It also reduces the pain and the unwanted morning stiffness.

Vitamin B5 – Works As a Synthesizer

Vitamin B5 is best known to synthesize various essential components that are required by human body. For example, it helps in the formation of proteins, fats, amino acids, carbohydrates, adrenal hormones and antibiotics.

Vitamin B5 – Best Stress Buster

Vitamin B5 works great to kill the stress and other mental problems. Various mental problems such as depression and anxiety has been reduce. B5 helps to maintain a proper fitness of mind by suppressing the hormones responsible for these mental states.

Vitamin B5 – Taking Care of Every Heart

Vitamin B5 has the flair to maintain the human heart in good working condition. B5 helps to regulate the cholesterol level and controls the level of blood pressure.

Vitamin B5 – Maintain Healthy Hair and Skin

Vitamin B5 holds an excellent record in maintaining the skin and hair health. On the other hand, vitamin B5 also helps to delay the appearance of premature aging over the skin. Also, vitamin B5 helps to reduce pigmentation of hair, premature greying and lot more.

Vitamin B5 – Induce Stamina

More than anything else, this vitamin helps to reduce weariness and body fatigue and brings each body parts on right track. In short, vitamin B5 is capable of inducing stamina to perform well in various tasks. Athletes are recommended to daily consume some amount of vitamin B5 in their diet.

Vitamin B5 –Deficiency Symptoms

Deficiency of vitamin B5 cause muscle weakness, reduction in the blood cholesterol levels, cramps and production of intestinal bacteria